WHAT IS CYBER-SECURITY AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
In 1983, the first U.S Patent for Cybersecurity was given, however, this topic wasn’t appealing to many people because technology “wasn’t there yet”. In 2003 , the first hacker group emerged, Anonymous, but again, society didn’t really had much business involved with technology, there was nothing to worry about. In 2012, more than 560 million people in Latin America were victims of cyber-security and more $90 billion USD where stole using this same method. How did this become a real threat and how does it affect developing/ poor countries. Let’s define the concept first, after all that’s where it all stars.
Click on the image to let Khan Academy and NovaLabs explain you!
LETS QUANTIFY THE DAMAGE CYBER-SECURITY HAS DONE…
Cyber-security is still a very recent form of crime that not many people are aware of. Jack Forster of VPN Geeks, a blog dedicated to inform programmers about security, privacy and cyber-crime topics, breaks down 21 cyber crime facts, putting into perspective how powerful the internet really is. The statistics provide data that will allow everyone, regardless of their experience in this subject, to understand how powerful and real cyber-crime is.
It is expected by 2020 for cyber-crime to cost up to $6 trillion. 300 billion passwords are stolen each year. Over 2.52 million people fell victims of cyber-crime in UAE. These aren’t just numbers, cyber-security has to be a topic that’s talked about and it’s taken seriously if technology is going to grow as fast as it is doing now.
Click here to learn more about the 21 Terrifying Cyber Crime Statistics!
Foster, Jack. “21 Terrifying Cyber Crime Statistics.” Data Connectors, https://dataconnectors.com/technews/21-terrifying-cyber-crime-statistics/.
WHY WOULD A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT INFORMATION SECURITY?
New America is an organization that focuses on addressing the challenges caused by the increasing technological and social change while looking for opportunities and improvements within them. It is true, that third world countries don’t hold as powerful documents as, for example, the United States of America does, but that doesn’t mean that those documents aren’t important. Many documents held by governments have something do to with bank transactions and money, which no matter the country, it contains relevant information.
According to a 2016 survey, 88% of households in India had a mobile phone, but far fewer hour set holds had access to toilets or tap water (Vazzana, 2019). Technology has massively grown in the last few years and now, every individual wants to have access to it. More passwords and accounts are created everyday that means, hackers have more information they are attracted to and will try to steal.
Click image below to read more about cyber-security in third world countries!
Vazzana, Johanna. “Securing Technology Is No Longer a ‘First World Problem’.” New America, 19 Feb. 2019, https://www.newamerica.org/cybersecurity-initiative/humans-of-cybersecurity/blog/securing-technology-is-no-longer-a-first-world-problem/.
HOW MUCH HAS CYBER-SECURITY CHANGED IN LATIN AMERICA IN THE PAST YEARS?
The first manifestations of cyber-crime in Latin America were mostly done though simple computer hacking; malware and phishing. Hackers had to find more complicated and new ways of stealing information from governments and citizens and even though it’s hard to believe, technology made it easier for them. Latin America is one of the fastest growing technology users in the world however, people aren’t really aware of how serious and dangerous cyber-crime is.
According to a study on cyber-crime by the Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry, phishing alone affects about 2,500 regional banks and accounts for $93 billion USD in annual losses (COHA, 2014).
Have Latin Americans learnt how to deal with cyber-crime? Are their economies still being robbed or have they implemented laws to avoid this?
Click the link below to read about the evolution of cyber-security in Latin America!
Cyber Security and Hacktivism in Latin America: Past and Future
Coha. “Cyber Security and Hacktivism in Latin America: Past and Future.” COHA, 11 Aug. 2014, http://www.coha.org/cyber-security-and-hacktivism-in-latin-america-past-and-future/.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR CYBER-SECURITY IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES?
Technology is continuously growing, and third world countries aren’t going to fall behind. Governments and citizens have to start worrying about cyber-security and how to implement them. It’s fair to say that a simple law isn’t going to change the professional hackers’ minds and cyber-crime isn’t going to be over but that’s where encouraging people to keep studying and learning about cyber-security is going to play a role.
This blog by Irene Muniz Ruiz, from Stanford University, talks about the challenges third would countries face. It’s our turn to find a solution to keep our information safe!!
https://mse238blog.stanford.edu/2017/07/imunizr/cyber-security-challenges-in-developing-countries/
Dineva, Boryana, et al. “Cyber Security Challenges in Developing Countries: MS&E 238 Blog.” MSE 238 Blog Cyber Security Challenges in Developing Countries Comments, https://mse238blog.stanford.edu/2017/07/imunizr/cyber-security-challenges-in-developing-countries/.